Ecotality Life

 

This New Year’s Eve will signal another change for the traditional ball drop that takes place in New York City’s Time Square. Millions of folks packed into Times Square and millions more watching on television will witness a greener, more environmentally friendly orb to usher in the new year.

A little history always is interesting. The very first ball was created by the chief electrician for the NY Times back in 1907. Dropping a ball for synchronization of clocks has been around for nearly 200 years. Back then, iron balls were lowered from poles at the port at noon every day so that mariners could set their clocks and thus calculate the rate of errors in their chronometers. I had NO idea!

The famous Times Square ball is in its fifth transformation.The 2008 model consists of an aluminum skeleton with the outsid in Waterford crystal panels. Underneath the crystals are LEDs. The addition of the LEDs means that this year’s ball will not only be brighter, but more energy efficient!

Last year’s ball had halogen quills, this years will have a smooth surface that is capable of displaying nearly 16 million colors. I like color, but that may be just a bit much even for me! However, it will be toned down a  bit, where the palette will be limited to 25 vibrant colors.

“People are going to be blown away by the variety and the saturation of colors,” said Christine Hope, the project lighting designer at Focus Lighting, nyt.com who has been working on the new ball since last October.

This year’s ball can also display video, so that images can be projected…. a high-tech turn for the tradition we’ve all come to know! Want more statistics? The new ball weighs about 1200 pounds and has 672 triangle shaped Waterford crystal panels. The ball also contains mirrors on the exterior to increase the visual affect.

The old ball contained 600 bulbs, which have now been replaced with 9,576 LEDs, making it twice as bright as the old one. Even thought it is twice as bright, the new ball is much easier on the environment, with about the same power as running 10 toaster for 6 hours straight..(about how long the ball is lit) It uses 87 percent fewer watts! Quite significant! 

The old iron and wood balls were replaced with aluminum in 1955. During several years in the 80s, it was apple shaped. (not my personal favorite) In 1995 it was made flashier by the addition of rhinestones. Ok NOW we’re talkin’! Today’s has about the equivalent of 500 crystal goblets.

The materials are donated by Waterford and Royal Phillips Electronics and the event is produced by Countdown Entertainment and the Times Square Alliance. The ball is worth about $1.1 million dollars.

After the ball makes its one minute, computer aided, 77 foot descent, it will reside in a vault 50 feet below 1 Times Square, next to the previously used ball. Let’s hope Con Ed keeps the grid running for at LEAST that one moment……

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